DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
P.O. BOX  N -3913/14
NASSAU, N.P.
THE BAHAMAS

                                                                                                29th   April, 2010

EDU/A/323

CIRCULAR NO.:  09/10

LAST CIRCULAR NO.: 08/10                                            DATED:  24/02/10

TO:         ALL DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENTS; PRINCIPALS OF GOVERNMENT & INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS; HEADS OF INDEPENDENT EDUCATION AUTHORITIES; THE PRESIDENT  OF THE COLLEGE  OF THE BAHAMAS (COB); THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE TECHNICAL CADET CORPS; THE MANAGER OF THE BAHAMAS TECHNICAL & VOCATIONAL INSTITUTE (BTVI) AND HEADQUARTERS STAFF

REVISED SCHOOL CALENDAR – ACADEMIC YEAR 2010/2011
(Note changes in Dates for Professional Days - New Providence and Grand Bahama, School-based Examinations and Teacher Work Days)

                Opening and closing dates, as stipulated must be strictly adhered to and permission to vary them will be granted only in exceptional circumstances.  Should the need arise, permission must be obtained from the Department of Education.

MID-TERM BREAKS                                         -               Thursday, 20 and Friday 21 October, 2011
Friday, 24 and Monday, 27 February, 2012     

OFFICIAL HOLIDAYS                                      -               Discovery Day (National Heroes Day), Good
Friday, Easter Monday, Whit Monday, Labour Day.

ORIENTATION                                   -               22 August to 26 August, 2011

PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT                                 -               Activities (Professional Development Activities)
are scheduled for 27 June to 19 August, 2011. District           Superintendents & Curriculum Officers, in consultation with School administrators, will organize SITE-BASED “four-day” sessions to address training and upgrading needs of both New Providence & Family Island teachers.

PROFESSIONAL DAYS:                  -               a)             18 to 19 October, 2011 (Eleuthera,
Cat Island, San Salvador and Rum
Cay Schools).

                                                                                                b)            18 to 19 October, 2011 (Mayaguana,
Inagua, Crooked Island, Acklins, Long
Cay Schools).

• 24 to 25 October, 2011 (Abaco, Long Island, Andros, Berry Island, Exuma and Ragged Island Schools).

• 23 to 24 February, 2012 (New Providence and Grand Bahama Schools).

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SCHOOL –BASED
EXAMINATIONS                                                -               5 to 9 December, 2011 and 18 to 22  June
2012 (high schools).
8 to 10 December, 2010 and 22 to 24 June, 2011                                                                                                                             (primary schools)

WORK DAYS                                                      -               12 to 13 December, 2011 and 25-28 June, 2012.

NATIONAL REPORT
CARD DAYS                                                        -               16 December, 2011 and 30 June, 2012

CLOSING DAY                                                   -               9 December, 2011 and 22 June, 2012
(students)
16 December, 2011 and 29 July, 2012
(teachers).

• You will be informed of other International days.

DAYS AND HOURS           -               The days  for  school  attendance in  Ministry  of  Education schools                           
each week during the term will  be from  Monday  to Friday  inclusive, unless otherwise directed by the Department of Education.

Hours of attendance  for  pupils  shall be from 8:45 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. provided, however, that there shall be a  daily recess   of one or more periods, which shall not in  aggregate exceed one hour.

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Teachers are required to arrive and leave school at Least a quarter of an hour before and after the hours stated above and as may otherwise be required for the purpose of staff meetings, curriculum development meetings, etc.

2.             Circulars will be issued separately giving additional details on In-Service Programmes.

3.             This supersedes Circular 09/10 dated 24th  February, 2010.

                                                                                                Lionel K. Sands
Director of Education
LKS/cj

Opening and closing dates, as stipulated must be strictly adhered to and permission to vary them will be granted only in exceptional circumstances. Should the need arise, permission must be obtained from the Department of Education.